23
March 1945
B-78
Holland
Good
mild weather all day with occasional thin cloud and light ground
haze which permitted us to do three operations and one A& E
test. F/O Mac McBride had some tough breaks, once when his tire
blew out on landing from an operation and a second time when his
brake seized on landing also from an operation, causing his kite
to ground loop and the undercarriage to buckle.
The
boys heard about the RCAF show "Blackouts" which came to
town so we brought down the W.D.'s to our Dispersal for the
afternoon where they really enjoyed watching the normal activity
including the kites taking off and landing. Later on F/L Tex Gray,
the lucky southerner with a unique southern drawl, who is O.C. of
coffee making, superbly quenched their thirst with the results of
his culinary efforts at making.
Everyone
tried to make dates of course but were failed when briefing was
called for 08:30 p.m. We suspected that this would come sooner or
later after having kept down our flying to conserve aircraft. The
Gen is that "R" Day is coming off tomorrow, the
artillery was laid on around 1700 hours, the assault troops (51st
Scottish Division 7 Units of the 3rd Canadian Division) are to go
in around 2200 hours.
Wesel
was captured at 2300 hours, then the Spits, Tempests and other
RCAF & RAF fighters of the 2nd TAF & we to patrol the
enemy aerodromes early tomorrow morning until the afternoon when
the 8th & 9th United States Air force are to take over.
The
role of our Squadron is to take out the flak positions so that the
Dakotas can come in at 1000 hrs over the Rhine with paratroopers.
We are also to do armed recces in close support to the Army. Very
few here know what is coming off tomorrow but it is something all
were expecting.
J27349
F/O Jack Roberts has been withdrawn from further operations on
completing his first tour with 96 sorties, totalling 106:10
operational hours and giving him a grand total of 718:15 flying
hours.
Our
aircraft strength is up to 18 aircraft again with 16 serviceable.
Detail
of Work Carried Out by
No. 439
RCAF Squadron
as
recorded by
J20602 F/O R.H. Laurence, J29881 F/O W.G.
Davis,
and
C20089 F/L M. Harrison in
the
439 Squadron Operations Record Book
Form 541
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| RB456
RB198
PD608
SW443
SW420
RB321
SW423
RB324
RB510
MN691
MN936
PD451
|
F/L
Davis W.G.
F/L Whelan M.J.
F/O Harrison J.L.
W/O Roach R.J.
F/L LeGear V.H.
F/L Gray J.O.
F/O Fraser A.H.
F/O Hallford F.M.
F/O Marlatt S.D.
F/O Kubicki W.
F/O Anderson W.
F/O Derouin A.E. |
Dive
Bombing |
13:25 |
14:15
|
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
The long suffering Coesfeld -
Bungsteinfurt railway was again the target of an attack by
twelve aircraft carrying 500 lbs. bombs 11 second delay tail
fused. F/L Bill Davis led the Squadron off at 13:25. They
steered north to Ruurlo, and turned starboard 90 degrees at
that point. Diving at 70 degrees from 8000 to 3000 feet they
scored four hits at A7185. No flak, or movement were
observed. The aircraft returned to base and all landed
safely at 14:15
Claims, Rails - 4 cuts
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
|
SW423
RB206
SW443
SW420
MN691
RB262
RB324
MN936
PD461
PD451
RB377 |
F/O
McBride A.C.
F/L Whelan M.J.
W/O Roach R.J.
F/O Marlatt S.D.
F/O Herod H.R.
F/O Fraser A.H.
F/O Hallford F.M.
F/O Anderson W.
F/L Gray J.O.
F/O Saunders A.W.
F/O Derouin A.E. |
Dive
Bombing |
15:25 |
16:35 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
F/O Al McBride
led the Squadron on a rail interdiction trip against the
Coesfeld-Dolman railway. 500 lb. bombs, 11 second delay tail
fused were carried on eleven aircraft, as a burst tail wheel
tire prevented F/O Mickey Harrison from taking off to make
up the Squadron of Twelve.
As they
approached Coesfeld at 8000 feet, it was obvious that that
unfortunate city had received the attention of the heavy and
medium bombers earlier in the day. A cloud of heavy smoke
from the burning city rose to over 8000 feet almost
obscuring the ground, and hiding all movement.
However,
pressing on through the murk, they bombed the line
effectively, obtaining 7 cuts at A6367. There was no flak,
and they returned to base and landed at 16:35. A tire burst
when F/O Adam Saunders touched down, the aircraft went off
the runway and over on its back (Cat B), but the pilot was
undamaged.
Claims, Rails -
7 cuts.
|
| A/C
Type & Number |
Crew |
Duty |
Up |
Down |
| RB456
PD461
MN691
MN936
SW420
RB198
RB477
SW423
SW443
RB262
RB510 |
F/L
Davis W.G.
W/O Kidd E.F.
F/O Cleghorn D.G.
F/O Johnson D.E.
F/L LeGear V.H.
F/O Herod H.R.
F/O Kubicki W.
F/O McBride A.C.
F/O Harrison J.L.
F/O Saunders A.W..
F/O Derouin A.E. |
Dive
Bombing |
17:55 |
18:50 |
|
Details
of Sortie or Flight
Eleven planes
were used on the last show of the day. F/L Bill Davis led
with Red Section followed by F/L Vic LeGear with Blue and
F/O Al McBride with Yellow. 500 lb. bombs with 11 second
tail fused were carried. They took off at 17:55 hours and
headed at 10,000 feet for Gronan - Burgsteinfurt line. After
passing over the Rhine, the haze caused by bombing was found
to have moved north due to a change in wind. The only line
open was the ???tphen-Winterswijk
railway. A fairly steep dive of 50-60 degrees into sun near
Vorden resulted in one cut being observed at A0192. The
majority were unobserved due to haze. All aircraft returned
safely to base landing at 18:40. No flak was seen at any
time.
Claims: Rails, 1
cut.
|
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